This article refers to computer memory, for neuroscience, see Holonomic brain theory.

Holographic memory is a technique that can store information at high density inside crystals or photopolymers. As current storage
techniques such as DVD reach the upper limit of possible data density (due to the diffraction limited size of the writing beams),
holographic storage has the potential to become the next generation of storage media. The advantage of this type of data storage is that the
volume of the recording media is used instead of just the surface. This three-dimensional aspect allows for a phenomenon known as
Bragg selectivity to be utilised, whereby many information laden holograms can be superimposed or multiplexed in the same volume of
medium. It is necessary to Bragg detune each hologram recorded with respect to its neighbours. This can be achieved by a number of
methods, e.g. rotation of the media with respect to the recording object and reference beams or changing the wavelength or phase of the
recording laser beams for each hologram.

Like other media, holographic media is divided into write once (where the storage medium undergoes some irreversible change), and
rewritable media (where the change is reversible). Rewritable holographic storage can be achieved via the photorefractive effect in
crystals:

• Mutually coherent light from two sources creates an interference pattern in the media. These two sources are called the
reference beam and the signal beam.

• Where there is constructive interference the light is bright and electrons can be promoted from the valence band to the
conduction band of the material (since the light has given the electrons energy to jump the energy gap). The positively
charged atoms they leave are called holes and they must be immobile in rewritable holographic materials. Where there is
destructive interference, there is less light and few electrons are promoted.

• Electrons in the conduction band are free to move in the material. They will experience two opposing forces that determine
how they move. The first force is the coulomb force between the electrons and the positive holes that they have been
promoted from. This force encourages the electrons to stay put or move back to where they came from. The second is the
pseudo-force of diffusion that encourages them to move to areas where electrons are less dense. If the coulomb forces are not
too strong, the electrons will move into the dark areas.

• Beginning immediately after being promoted, there is a chance that a given electron will recombine with a hole and move
back into the valence band. The faster the rate of recombination, the fewer the number of electrons that will have the chance
to move into the dark areas. This rate will affect the strength of the hologram.

• After some electrons have moved into the dark areas and recombined with holes there, there is a permanent space charge field
between the electrons that moved to the dark spots and the holes in the bright spots. This leads to a change in the index of
refraction due to the electro-optic effect.

When the information is to be retrieved or read out from the hologram, only the reference beam is necessary. The beam is sent into the
material in exactly the same way as when the hologram was written. As a result of the index changes in the material that were created
during writing, the beam splits into two parts. One of these parts recreates the signal beam where the information is stored. Something
like a CCD camera can be used to convert this information into a more usable form.

Holograms can theoretically store equal to one bit per cubic block the size of the wavelength of light in writing. For example, light from a
helium-neon laser is red, 632.8 nm wavelength light. Using light of this wavelength, perfect holographic storage could store 4 gigabits per
cubic millimetre. In practice, the data density would be much lower, for at least four reasons:
 • The need to add error-correction

• The need to accommodate imperfections or limitations in the optical system

• Economic payoff (higher densities may cost disproportionately more to achieve)

• Design technique limitations--a problem currently faced in magnetic Hard Drives wherein magnetic domain configuration
prevents manufacture of disks that fully utilize the theoretical limits of the technology.

At the National Association of Broadcasters 2005 (NAB) convention in Las Vegas, InPhase conducted the first public demonstrations of
the world’s first prototype of a commercial storage device at the Maxell Corporation of America booth.

[edit] See also

• Holographic data storage

• Holographic Versatile Card

• Holographic Versatile Disc

• Holographic associative memory

[edit] External links

• Howstuffworks

• Inphase Tech

• Maxell Holographic Media Press Release

• Optware Unavailable at the moment

• Holographic-memory discs may put DVDs to shame - New Scientist

• Seminar paper on holographic memory

• An interview with Mike Lanciloti from InPhase about The first commercial Holographic storage including pictures - An
article from TFOT
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